Virgin Mary statue returned to West Springfield traffic island

05.08.2013 | WEST SPRINGFIELD -- Antonio Liquori stands in his yard with the statue of the Madonna that a West Springfield. Sunday he was allowed to return it to the traffic island where it had been placed earlier.Republican file photo / Sandra E. Constantine / The Republican

WEST SPRINGFIELD –On Sunday morning, with rays of sun shining through breaks in the clouds, Antonio Liquori carefully returned the small statue of the Virgin Mary to stand next to flowers and American and Italian flags on the traffic island he adopted.

“It is a beautiful day and it was a good time since it was Mother’s Day,” said Liquori, the owner of Liquori’s Pizza.

What was a simple attempt to beautify the traffic island at South Boulevard and Westfield Street, right down the street from Liquori’s busy business, has turned into a major controversy when Liquori decided to place the statue among the flowers on the island.

After he put up the statute, the Department of Public Works Deputy Director of Operations Vincent DeSantis III mailed a letter telling Liquori he must remove it. DeSantis explained religious symbols are not allowed on public property and complaints had been made.

Liquori did move the statue to his restaurant. The removal sparked protests on the traffic island and more than 300 people signed a petition calling for the statute to be returned.

On Thursday Mayor Gregory C. Neffinger said the statue may be replaced pending a legal opinion issued by Town Attorney Simon J. Brighenti Jr. It is not known how soon the opinion will be submitted.

“It is nice to have her back. It was so sad, it was heartbreaking to take her down,” Liquori said.

Liquori, a member of St. Thomas Church, said he will now wait to see the fate of the statue.